Tryptophan

Periodontal bacteria trigger bone density reduction via the gut

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Periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the gums, affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide and is increasingly linked to systemic disorders beyond the oral cavity. Epidemiological studies have long suggested an association between periodontitis and osteoporosis, particularly in postmenopausal women, yet the biological mechanisms connecting these conditions have remained unclear. Growing evidence indicates that … Read more

Metabolite may enable diet and probiotic opportunities

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Research has found that bacterial metabolites in the gut may affect the heart through specific brain neurons, revealing a new gut-brain-heart connection. The discovery suggests that increasing these metabolites through diet changes or supplements might help prevent cardiovascular disease.  Scientists at the Max Delbrück Center detail that the indole-3 acetic acid (IAA) metabolite is key … Read more

Can psychedelics break compulsive eating habits in obesity?

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Oxford scientists propose that psychedelics could rewire brain circuits behind compulsive eating, offering a bold new strategy to treat obesity, if future trials confirm their potential. Review: The compulsive eating paradigm: can psychedelics help in treating obesity? Image Credit: Eskymaks / Shutterstock Psychedelics, a class of hallucinogenic drugs, may serve as a potential therapeutic intervention for some … Read more

Senolytics offer hope for more precise Alzheimer’s treatments

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A new research paper was published in Aging (Aging-US) on March 29, 2025, as the cover of Volume 17, Issue 3, titled “Differential senolytic inhibition of normal versus Aβ-associated cholinesterases: implications in aging and Alzheimer’s disease.” In this study, a research team from Dalhousie University, led by Sultan Darvesh, discovered that certain anti-aging compounds, known as senolytics, can block … Read more

Study finds 24-hour fasting cycles enhance libido in male mice

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Long-term fasting in 24-hour cycles increases the sex drive of male mice by lowering the concentration of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain. This effect is linked to a diet-induced deficiency of the precursor substance tryptophan – an amino acid that must be obtained through food. Researchers from DZNE report on this in the journal … Read more